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Siqokoqela snubs Mphoko's burial
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Siqokoqela Mphoko, the son of the late former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko, was conspicuously absent from his father's burial at the family's Douglasdale plot in Bulawayo yesterday. His absence comes amid a bitter and ongoing family feud, marked by accusations, legal battles, and irreparable personal fallout.
The family dispute escalated after Siqokoqela accused his late father, along with his stepmother and two sisters, of orchestrating false rape allegations that led to his arrest last year. The charges, which alleged that Siqokoqela had raped his niece, were later dismissed, but the fallout left deep scars within the family.
In 2018, Siqokoqela and his wife, Nomagugu, were embroiled in another controversy when they were arrested for allegedly forcing managers at Choppies Supermarkets in Bulawayo to unlawfully dispense over US$30,000 from point-of-sale machines. The couple was accused of threatening the managers, many of whom were from Botswana, with dismissal or deportation. Those charges, too, ultimately collapsed in court.
The series of controversies and legal battles irreparably fractured the relationship between Siqokoqela and his father. Family insiders have described the fallout as one of "irreconcilable differences,” with the acrimony persisting until the former Vice President's death. Siqokoqela has since publicly maintained that his father left behind a "legacy of ruins,” a stark contrast to the image of a united family often portrayed by public figures.
The burial, though attended by other family members and close associates, was overshadowed by the glaring absence of Siqokoqela. Mourners reflected not only on the former Vice President's legacy but also on the controversies that clouded his final years and strained his family's bonds.
The Mphoko family saga highlights the intersection of personal turmoil and public life, a recurring theme in Zimbabwe's political and business circles. Whether the wounds will heal remains to be seen, but for now, the late Vice President's burial has underscored the unresolved rifts that continue to define his family's narrative.
The family dispute escalated after Siqokoqela accused his late father, along with his stepmother and two sisters, of orchestrating false rape allegations that led to his arrest last year. The charges, which alleged that Siqokoqela had raped his niece, were later dismissed, but the fallout left deep scars within the family.
In 2018, Siqokoqela and his wife, Nomagugu, were embroiled in another controversy when they were arrested for allegedly forcing managers at Choppies Supermarkets in Bulawayo to unlawfully dispense over US$30,000 from point-of-sale machines. The couple was accused of threatening the managers, many of whom were from Botswana, with dismissal or deportation. Those charges, too, ultimately collapsed in court.
The burial, though attended by other family members and close associates, was overshadowed by the glaring absence of Siqokoqela. Mourners reflected not only on the former Vice President's legacy but also on the controversies that clouded his final years and strained his family's bonds.
The Mphoko family saga highlights the intersection of personal turmoil and public life, a recurring theme in Zimbabwe's political and business circles. Whether the wounds will heal remains to be seen, but for now, the late Vice President's burial has underscored the unresolved rifts that continue to define his family's narrative.
Source - online
